Heavy Equipment Rodeo

The TST BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Heavy Equipment program traveled to Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES Friday, May 4 to participate in the tenth annual Heavy Equipment Rodeo.

The event is made up of a variety of challenges designed to test the students’ ability with the machinery that they practice operating in class. TST BOCES students competed against attendees representing two other BOCES regions: Cayuga-Onondaga and Madison-Oneida.

“I really liked having the chance to run the equipment,” said Heavy Equipment student Cole VandePoel. “My favorite challenge was operating the dozer to move a tire around the course.”

The courses required students to demonstrate a high level of skill with the equipment, steering in and out of cones, moving tennis balls or using a front loader to pick up and move an egg. Students were then scored based on how quickly and how effectively they could complete each task.

“I enjoyed using the new equipment,” said Heavy Equipment student Roger Craw. “It was a good learning experience.”

A number of TST BOCES students ranked among winners in several events. Thomas Lindsay III and Gavin Collins both placed second in separate events. In other events Gavin Collins also placed third, along with Zach Sinnott and Michael MacCheyne.